Power conversion apparatus

Abstract

According to an embodiment, there is provided an apparatus which can hold down an energy loss and can avoid an increase in size. The apparatus includes a cell including a floating capacitor connected in parallel to an upper-side switching element and a lower-side switching element; an upper arm include including first switch circuits, each including a first switching element, a first diode and a first capacitor, are connected in series; a lower arm including second switch circuits, each including a second switching element, a second diode and a second capacitor, are connected in series; and a circuit which connects a low-side terminal of the cell and a low-side terminal of the first capacitor and connects a high-side terminal of the cell and a high-side terminal of the second capacitor.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A power conversion apparatus comprising:
 an inverter cell including an upper-side switching element connected between an AC terminal and a high-potential-side terminal, a lower-side switching element connected between the AC terminal and a low-potential-side terminal, and a floating capacitor connected in parallel to the upper-side switching element and the lower-side switching element between the high-potential-side terminal and the low-potential-side terminal; 
 an upper arm connected to the high-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and including at least one first switch circuit having a first switching element; and 
 a lower arm connected to the low-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and including at least one second switch circuit having a second switching element, 
 wherein 
 in a case that the upper arm includes the one first switch circuit and the lower arm includes the one second switch circuit, or that the upper arm includes a plurality of first switch circuits connected in series and the lower arm includes a plurality of second switch circuits connected in series, 
 the one first switch circuit or each of the plurality of first switch circuits includes a first diode with a cathode connected to a low-potential-side terminal of the first switching element and includes a first capacitor connected between an anode of the first diode and a high-potential-side terminal of the first switching element, 
 the one second switch circuit or each of the plurality of second switch circuits includes a second diode with an anode connected to a high-potential-side terminal of the second switching element and includes a second capacitor connected between a cathode of the second diode and a low-potential-side terminal of the second switching element, 
 the power conversion apparatus includes a first rectification circuit which connects the low-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and a low-potential-side terminal of the first capacitor and a second rectification circuit which connects the high-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and a high-potential-side terminal of the second capacitor, and 
 in a case that the upper arm includes the plurality of first switch circuits and the lower arm includes the one second switch circuit, each of the plurality of first switch circuits includes a first diode with a cathode connected to a low-potential-side terminal of the first switching element and includes a first capacitor connected between an anode of the first diode and a high-potential-side terminal of the first switching element, and the power conversion apparatus includes a first rectification circuit which connects the low-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and a low-potential-side terminal of the first capacitor, and 
 in a case that the lower arm includes the plurality of second switch circuits and the upper arm includes the one first switch circuit, each of the plurality of second switch circuits includes a second diode with an anode connected to a high-potential-side terminal of the second switching element and includes a second capacitor connected between a cathode of the second diode and a low-potential-side terminal of the second switching element, and the power conversion apparatus includes a second rectification circuit which connects the high-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and a high-potential-side terminal of the second capacitor. 
 
     
     
       2. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first rectification circuit includes one or a plurality of first regenerative rectification diodes which are connected in series, and a first resistor connected between a cathode of one first regenerative rectification diode and the low-potential-side terminal of the first capacitor or a plurality of first resistors connected between respective cathodes of the plurality of first regenerative rectification diodes and the low-potential-side terminals of respective first capacitors, and 
 the second rectification circuit includes one or a plurality of second regenerative rectification diodes which are connected in series, and a second resistor connected between an anode of one second regenerative rectification diode and the high-potential-side terminal of the second capacitor or a plurality of second resistors connected between respective anodes of the plurality of second regenerative rectification diodes and the high-potential-side terminals of respective second capacitors. 
 
     
     
       3. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first switching element of the first switch circuit has a first breakdown voltage and the second switching element of the second switch circuit has a second breakdown voltage, and 
 in the case that the upper arm includes the one first switch circuit and the lower arm includes the plurality of second switch circuits connected in series, the first breakdown voltage is higher than the second breakdown voltage, and in the case that the lower arm includes the one second switch circuit and the upper arm includes the plurality of first switch circuits connected in series, the second breakdown voltage is higher than the first breakdown voltage. 
 
     
     
       4. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the power conversion apparatus includes a first inductance element in place of the first resistor, and includes a second inductance element in place of the second resistor. 
     
     
       5. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the inverter cell includes an upper-side diode with a cathode connected to a low-potential-side terminal of the upper-side switching element, an upper-side capacitor connected between an anode of the upper-side diode and a high-potential-side terminal of the upper-side switching element, a lower-side diode with an anode connected to a high-potential-side terminal of the lower-side switching element, and a lower-side capacitor connected between a cathode of the lower-side diode and a low-potential-side terminal of the lower-side switching element, 
 the first rectification circuit further connects a low-potential-side terminal of the upper-side capacitor and the low-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell, and 
 the second rectification circuit further connects a high-potential-side terminal of the lower-side capacitor and the high-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell. 
 
     
     
       6. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein
 the inverter cell includes an upper-side diode with a cathode connected to a low-potential-side terminal of the upper-side switching element, an upper-side capacitor connected between an anode of the upper-side diode and a high-potential-side terminal of the upper-side switching element, a lower-side diode with an anode connected to a high-potential-side terminal of the lower-side switching element, and a lower-side capacitor connected between a cathode of the lower-side diode and a low-potential-side terminal of the lower-side switching element, 
 the first rectification circuit further connects a low-potential-side terminal of the upper-side capacitor and the low-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell, and 
 the second rectification circuit further connects a high-potential-side terminal of the lower-side capacitor and the high-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell. 
 
     
     
       7. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein
 the inverter cell includes an upper-side diode with a cathode connected to a low-potential-side terminal of the upper-side switching element, an upper-side capacitor connected between an anode of the upper-side diode and a high-potential-side terminal of the upper-side switching element, a lower-side diode with an anode connected to a high-potential-side terminal of the lower-side switching element, and a lower-side capacitor connected between a cathode of the lower-side diode and a low-potential-side terminal of the lower-side switching element, 
 the first rectification circuit further connects a low-potential-side terminal of the upper-side capacitor and the low-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell, and 
 the second rectification circuit further connects a high-potential-side terminal of the lower-side capacitor and the high-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell. 
 
     
     
       8. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein
 the inverter cell includes an upper-side diode with a cathode connected to a low-potential-side terminal of the upper-side switching element, an upper-side capacitor connected between an anode of the upper-side diode and a high-potential-side terminal of the upper-side switching element, a lower-side diode with an anode connected to a high-potential-side terminal of the lower-side switching element, and a lower-side capacitor connected between a cathode of the lower-side diode and a low-potential-side terminal of the lower-side switching element, 
 the first rectification circuit further connects a low-potential-side terminal of the upper-side capacitor and the low-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell, and 
 the second rectification circuit further connects a high-potential-side terminal of the lower-side capacitor and the high-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell. 
 
     
     
       9. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first switching element, the second switching element, the upper-side switching element and the lower-side switching element includes a plurality of switching elements connected in series. 
     
     
       10. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first switching element, the second switching element, the upper-side switching element and the lower-side switching element includes a plurality of switching elements connected in series. 
     
     
       11. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first switching element, the second switching element, the upper-side switching element and the lower-side switching element includes a plurality of switching elements connected in series. 
     
     
       12. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first switching element, the second switching element, the upper-side switching element and the lower-side switching element includes a plurality of switching elements connected in series. 
     
     
       13. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 in the case that the upper arm includes the plurality of first switch circuits, in the upper arm, first switching elements are sequentially switched at predetermined time intervals, and electrostatic capacitances of the first capacitors of the first switch circuits are set such that the electrostatic capacitance of the first capacitor connected to the first switching element with a longer time period from turn-on to turn-off is less than the electrostatic capacitance of the first capacitor connected to the first switching element with a shorter time period from turn-on to turn-off, and 
 in the case that the lower arm includes the plurality of second switch circuits in the lower arm, second switching elements are sequentially switched at predetermined time intervals, and electrostatic capacitances of the second capacitors are set such that the electrostatic capacitance of the second capacitor connected to the second switching element with a longer time period from turn-on to turn-off is less than the electrostatic capacitance of the second capacitor connected to the second switching element with a shorter time period from turn-on to turn-off. 
 
     
     
       14. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a voltage detector configured to detect a voltage of the floating capacitor; 
 a controller configured to multiply, by a gain, a difference between a voltage instruction value for the floating capacitor and a voltage detection value detected by the voltage detector; and 
 a compensator configured to generate, based on an output value of the controller, a compensation amount for adjusting switching timings of the first switching element, the second switching element, the upper-side switching element and the lower-side switching element. 
 
     
     
       15. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a current detector configured to detect a current flowing in the AC terminal of the inverter cell; and 
 a multiplier configured to multiply the output value of the controller and an output current value detected by the current detector, 
 wherein the compensator is configured to generate, based on an output value of the multiplier, a compensation amount for adjusting the switching timings of the first switching element, the second switching element, the upper-side switching element and the lower-side switching element. 
 
     
     
       16. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein
 the upper arm includes the plurality of first switch circuits and the lower arm includes the plurality of second switch circuits, and 
 the voltage instruction value for the floating capacitor is set to be higher than a value obtained by dividing an input DC voltage by a numerical value obtained by adding 1 to a smaller number between a number of first switching elements of the first switch circuits included in the upper arm and a number of second switching elements of the second switch circuits included in the lower arm. 
 
     
     
       17. The power conversion apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein
 the upper arm includes the plurality of first switch circuits and the lower arm includes the plurality of second switch circuits, and 
 the voltage instruction value for the floating capacitor is set to be higher than a value obtained by dividing an input DC voltage by a numerical value obtained by adding 1 to a smaller number between a number of first switching elements of the first switch circuits included in the upper arm and a number of second switching elements of the second switch circuits included in the lower arm. 
 
     
     
       18. A power conversion apparatus comprising:
 an inverter cell including an upper-side switching element connected between an AC terminal and a high-potential-side terminal, a lower-side switching element connected between the AC terminal and a low-potential-side terminal, and a floating capacitor connected in parallel to the upper-side switching element and the lower-side switching element between the high-potential-side terminal and the low-potential-side terminal; 
 an upper arm connected to the high-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and including at least one first switch circuit having a first switching element; and 
 a lower arm connected to the low-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and including at least one second switch circuit having a second switching element, 
 wherein 
 the upper arm includes a plurality of first switch circuits connected in series and the lower arm includes a plurality of second switch circuits connected in series, and 
 at least one of the first switch circuits includes a first diode with a cathode connected to a low-potential-side terminal of the first switching element and includes a first capacitor connected between an anode of the first diode and a high-potential-side terminal of the first switching element, 
 at least one of the second switch circuits includes a second diode with an anode connected to a high-potential-side terminal of the second switching element and includes a second capacitor connected between a cathode of the second diode and a low-potential-side terminal of the second switching element,
 the power conversion apparatus includes a first rectification circuit which includes a first regenerative rectification diode provided in at least one of intervals between low-potential-side terminals of the first capacitors of the first switch circuits which neighbor each other, and a first resistor connected between a cathode of the first regenerative rectification diode and the low-potential-side terminal of the first capacitor on a high-potential side of neighboring first switch circuits, 
 the power conversion apparatus includes a second rectification circuit which includes a second regenerative rectification diode provided in at least one of intervals between high-potential-side terminals of the second capacitors of the second switch circuits which neighbor each other, and a second resistor connected between an anode of the second regenerative rectification diode and the high-potential-side terminal of the second capacitor on a low-potential side of the neighboring second switch circuits, and 
 the low-potential-side terminal of the first capacitor of the first switch circuit, which is located on a most low-potential side, and the high-potential-side terminal of the second capacitor of the second switch circuit, which is located on a most high-potential side, are directly connected, or are connected via a resistor, or are connected via a resistor and a regenerative rectification diode. 
 
 
     
     
       19. A power conversion apparatus comprising:
 an inverter cell including an upper-side switching element connected between an AC terminal and a high-potential-side terminal, a lower-side switching element connected between the AC terminal and a low-potential-side terminal, and a floating capacitor connected in parallel to the upper-side switching element and the lower-side switching element between the high-potential-side terminal and the low-potential-side terminal; 
 an upper arm connected to the high-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and including one first switch circuit having a first switching element; and 
 a lower arm connected to the low-potential-side terminal of the inverter cell and including one second switch circuit having a second switching element, 
 wherein 
 the one first switch circuit includes a first diode with a cathode connected to a low-potential-side terminal of the first switching element and includes a first capacitor connected between an anode of the first diode and a high-potential-side terminal of the first switching element, 
 the one second switch circuit includes a second diode with an anode connected to a high-potential-side terminal of the second switching element and includes a second capacitor connected between a cathode of the second diode and a low-potential-side terminal of the second switching element, 
 the power conversion apparatus includes a rectification circuit which includes a resistor and a regenerative rectification diode, 
 the low-potential-side terminal of the first capacitor of the first switch circuit and the high-potential-side terminal of the second capacitor of the second switch circuit are connected via the rectification circuit.